Apparatus for treating metal sheets



Jan. 30, 1934. E. E. GRIFFITHS 1,944,975

APPARATUS FOR TREATING METAL SHEETS Jan. 30, 1934.

E. E. GRIFFITHS APPARATUS FOR TREATING METAL SHEETS Filed Nov. 30, 1951 14 Sheets-Sneak) l I I F I l l J s f/iZ 6 J" v 1 LU FT 23:33

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Jan. 30, 1934. E. E. GRIFFITHS 11,944,975

APPARA US FOR TREATING METAL SHEETS Filed Nov. 30, 1931 14 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 30, 1934. E. E. GRIFFITHS 1,944,975

APPARATUS FOR TREATING METAL SHEETS Filed Nov. 30, 1931 14 Sheets-Sheet 4 i 1 I -ji Q:

E. E. GRIFFITHS APPARATUS FOR TREATING METAL SHEETS Jan. 30, 1934.

Filed Nov. 30, 1931 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 30, 1934. E. E. GRIFFITHS 1,944,975

APPARATUS FOR TREATING METAL SHEETS Filed Nov. 30, 1931 14 Sheets-Sheet '7 Jan. 30, 1934.

. E. E.; GRIFFITHS A APPARATUS FOR TREATiNG METAL SHEETS 14 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed NOV. 50, I951 Jan. 30, 1934. E. E. GRIFFITHS APPARATUS FOR TREATING METAL SHEETS 14 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Nov. 30, l

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APPARATUS FOR TREATING METAL SHEETS lFiled'Nov. so, 1931 14 Sheets-Sheet 1o 1% K j r N -Q J Y Jan. 30, 1934.

E. E. GRIFFITHS APPARATUS FOR TREATING METAL SHEETS v Filed Nov. 50, 1951 14 Sheets-Sheet ll Jan. 30, 1934. E. E. GRIFFITHS APPARATUS FOR TREATING METAL SHEETS 14 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed Nov. 30, 1931 Jan. 1934- E. E. eRlFm-is 1,944,975 I APPARATUS FOR TREATING METAL SHEETS Filed NOV. 30, 1931 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 gmggggs l 1 6' I M Patented Jan. 30, 1934 PATENT OFFI E- 1 4% APPARATUS-"FOR TREATING METAL' 1 SHEETS s Evelyn ,Edwin Griffiths Bliindellsands, England Application November 30, 1931, Serial No. 578,103,

' and in'Great Britain December 3', 1930 a 20 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for treating metal sheets, such for example asfurnaces for annealing metal sheets. The type of such apparatus to which the invention is applicable is, 5 that in which the upper portion of the furnace conveyor and discharged therefrom, and im,-

' bars pass,

proved closure means.

The invention is specially applicable to sheets.

having their edges-beaded to form attachment means, but it is. applicable also tofplain sheets,

and includes arrangements by which the sheets may be fed directly to the main conveyor travers ing the furnace, or to a transfer conveyor between the feeding'table and themain conveyor,

like equivalent of the transfer conveyor.

I have in the accompanying drawings illustrated my invention as applied to an apparatus for annealing sheets by a continuous process. In the drawings:'-- j Figs. 1 to 6 illustrates; generalarrangement embodyingv .one'modiflcation in which transfer belts are employed to feed beaded sheets tothef main furnace conveyor. h

. Figs. 1, 2 and 3 together, constitute an elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 1 relates to the left-hand part ofthe ape paratus up to the line x, :c. M Fig. 2 is the central part of the apparatus between the lines wLx-and 11, y. g Fig. 3 is the right-hand part of the-apparatus fromtheline 111,11. 1; J

Figs. 4,5 and S together constitute-a corresponding plan view, the lines a:, x and y, 3/ being 4 similarly indicated. I Fig. 7' is a fragmentary elevation-of a modification of the feeding table, and Fig. 7A is a corresponding plan. Figs. 8, 9, 9A and 10 illustrate thedetailsof construction of the preferred form of main conveyorsheet attachment means for sheets having 'turnedover,or beaded upper. edges,

Fig. 8 being an elevation in transverse on theline VIII, VIII, of Fig. 10,.

section,

or, in the caseof beaded sheets, to a bar or the Fig.9 a side'elevation of aconveyor link with a pair of carrier bars,

Fig. 9A a fragmentary side elevation partly in conventional section, of the attachment means, and

Fig. 10 a plan view of Fig. 8.

Figs. 11, 12 and 13, which are fragmentary end elevations, illustrate three modifications of attachment means for the main conveyor adapted to take sheets having plain upper edges, said attachment means being carried by the carrier bars. I' 1 Figs; 14, 14A and 15, and 15A illustrate the meansemployed to prevent leakage of hot gases at'the openings into and out of the conveyor chamber through which the conveyorand carrier Figs.14 and 14A being'en'd elevations intrans verse section, and

Figs. 15 and 15A, being sectionalside elevations; j i

Figs. 16 and 17 arefragment'ary plan views of pneumatic devices for preventing leakage at, the entrances and exits of the furnace and cooling chamber through which the sheets pass."

Figs. 1 8 to 23 are views to a larger scale and show the arrangement of the transfer belt and portions of the main conveyor,

Fi'g.18 being an elevation, j Fig. 19 a plan, and

Figs. 20 to 23conventional transverse sections,

Fig. 20 showing the plate sheet K while it is stillsupportedby. thetable D, 21 being in section on the line XXI, XXI,- and Figs. 22 and 23, respectively, being in section on the lines XXII, XXII and XXIII XJHII of Fi 18. l

Figs. 24 and 25 i1lustrate,, more or less diagrammatically a modification in which the axis of the sprocket wheels of the transfer conveyor andmain conveyor are respectively vertical and horizontal,

'Fig. 24 being an elevation, and .Fig.25aplan.

Figs. 26 and12'7 are views similar to 24 and 25 and illustrate the arrangement in which the axes of the sprocket wheels of the main and transfer. conveyors are respectively. vertically and obliquely disposed,

Fig. 26 being an elevation, and

Figs. 28 to 31 illustrate diagrammatically the arrangement in which the sheetswith beaded edges .are transferred by means of a. fixed bar instead of a transfer conveyori Fig. 28 is an elevation.

Figs. 29 and 30 are conventional sections on the lines XXIX, XXIX and XXX, IDiX of Fig. 28.

Fig. 31 is a. conventional section on the line XXXI, of Fig. 28.

Figs. 32 and 33 are, respectively, an elevation and a plan and illustrate a modification in which the sheets are fed directly into pivoted clips on the main conveyor.

Figs. 34 and 34A are respectively a plan and a side elevation of the preferred form of hook for floating clips of Figs. 9 and 9A.

Figs. 35 to 38 show the arrangement for feeding and attaching to the conveyors sheets having plain upper edges suitable for the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 24 and 25 Fig. 35 being a transverse sectional elevation to a small scale, and

Figs. 36, 3'1 and 38 being fragmentary transverse sectional elevations to a larger scale, which may be regarded as being taken at the respective points XIQIV'I, XXXVII, IQKXVIII of Fig. 25.

Figs. 39 to 43 illustrate the arrangement for feeding and attaching to the conveyors sheets having plain upper edges suitable for the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 26 and 27,

Fig. 39 being a transverse section to a small scale, and

Figs. 40,41, 42 and 43 being transverse sections to a larger scale, which may be regarded as being taken at the respective points XL, XLI, XLII, XLIII of Fig. 26.

Figs. 44 to 46 illustrate pivoted grippers for the'main conveyor for sheets having plain edges which are transferred directly from the feeding device to the main conveyor and suitable for the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 32 and 33.-

Figs. 44, 45 and 46 are transverse sections which may be'regarded as being taken respectively at the points XLIV, XLV, XLVI of Figs. 33. Referring first toFigs'. 1 to 6; A is'the furnace; al the entrance through which the sheets pass into the furnace, (see Fi 4). o

O is the cooling chamber; 01 the portal chamber, and a2 (see Fig. 5) the exit from the furmace; and 01 and 02, respectively, the entrance to and exit from the portal chamber, (see Figs. 5 and 6).

The preferred construction of furnace and the cooling chamber would be that described in the specification to patent applications Serial Nos. 376,940 and 451,748.

C is the main conveyor shown conventionally for clearness in Figs. Ito 6 in chain-dotted lines.

In this modification the conveyor C is carried by two sprocket wheels 01, 02, the axes of which are vertical. V

D is the feeding machine table; E is the sheet beading machine; T the transfer belt by which the sheets are transferred from the feeding table to the main furnace conveyor C; the transfer belt T is carried by two sprocket wheels t1 and. t2 which in this modification have their axes horizontal; J (see Fig. 3) is the sheet discharging end of the apparatus.

The parts on the entrance side of the furnace including the main sprocket wheel 01 are carried by a suitable framed structure H; the main sprocket 02 is carried by the framed tower H2.

The several parts may be driven in any convenient manner. In the example illustrated a horizontal driving shaft S is provided, by which the right-hand or forward sprocket wheels of the main and transfer belts are driven; the main sprocket wheel c2 is driven by the gearing l, vertical shaft 2 and gearing 3; the rear main sprocket wheel 01 is carried in bearings which are spring or gravity controlled (for example by a weight V) to take up the slack, and is drivenby the main conveyor itself so that the front or working side of the latter is maintained taut; the forward sprocket wheel t2 of the transfer conveyor is driven from the rear sprocket wheel 01 of the main conveyor by the gearing 4, 5, 6 and 7 (Figs.

v 1, 4 and 18) in which a spur wheel 7, on the shaft of the sprocket wheel c1 gears with a pinion 6 connected by the shaft 10 bevel wheels 11, shaft 13, sprocket wheel 5 and chain 12 to the sprocket wheel 4 on the driving shaft of the sprocket t2 of the transfer conveyor. The longitudinal movement, relatively to the driven pinion 6, with a fixed axis, of the gear wheel '7 keyed on the axis of the movable sprocket wheel c1 imparts secondary angular movement to the said pinion in such manner that intermeshing alignment betweenthe sheet attachment means of the transfer conveyor and the main conveyor, respectively, is maintained, with the result that the vertically disposed sheets are transferred, without any tendency to'dislocation or distortion, from the transfer conveyor to the main conveyor.

The beading machine E is driven bythe gearing 8, from the motor (:1. I

In the modification Figs-.1 to 6 the sheets are supported by their turned-over'edges from-the attachment means, (including cam-operated grippers) provided on carriers attached to the links of a main conveyor chain C which passes through a conveyor chamberfW (see Fig. 8) in the furnaceso that the conveyor isjprotected from the furnace gases, the carrier bars B (see Fig. 8) extending through a narrow longitudinal slot 10' betweenthe conveyor chamber W and the furnace.

Inother modifications, to be described later, the sheets may have plain upper' edges which are adapted tobe gripped by frictional gripping devices attached to the said'carried bars. tachment means in each case are preferably constructed so that they form "fioating attachments capable of limited horizontal. and vertical movement relatively to the conveyors, so that the attachment means are adapted to accommodate themselves to any want of alignment or'iriequal ities of the track, conveyor or sheets. v

Referring to the, construction of the main conveyor C, see Figs. 8 to 10, the main conveyor is an endless chain mounted onsprocket wheels 01, 02 respectively located at'opposite ends of the apparatus; the forward moving side of the chain passes through the chamber W located above the furnace and communicating with the furnace through a narrow longitudinal slot ml.

The lower part 011 of each link of the conveyor C has attached to .it or formed integral with it brackets 012 to which are bolted a frame 013, and

bearing blocks 014, the latter being adapted to slide on longitudinal tubular guides e15, which The atare made hollow so that cooling water may be circulated therethrough; the guides are fixed to a bed-plate 016 by the angle brackets e17, and the tail end 013' of the frame 013 runs in a guide 018, carried from the bed-plate 016; the bed-plate is secured to a length of rolled steeljoist 019 carried in the brick work of the furnace A.

The frame 013 forms a cantilever and is provided with end lugs 020, and intermediate lugs e21,

to take a pivot pin cZZ on which are pivoted two carrierflbars 13, each having a pair of lugs b1 through which the pivot pin 022 passes, so that the respective carrier bars can angle to a limited extent about the pins 022. This amount or an gling may be limited in any convenient manneiyj for example the upper edge b3 of each carrier bar is located between the two jaws e21 cast'integrai with the lugs 021', these jaws limiting the angular movementof B about the pin e22.

. The lower end of each carrier bar is" provided with a slot hole b4, with nibs bSandf'acings b8 to take the parts next to be described.

The turned-over top k1 of each sheet Kissup ported by a suitable number of hook parts F (see Fig. 9A) each pivotally attached to a carrier bar B by a bolt f1 passing through the hole 72 in the hook part F. The lower end of F is hooked shaped as at f3, and the upp'ere'ndhas a palm 14 (see Figs. 34 and 34A) which plays between'thenibs D5 of the carrier bar so as to prevent or limit the the bolts f1, the hole 'gl being eccentric to the curvilinear gripping-surface 92 which engages with the top "side of the turned-over edge k1 of the sheet K each gripper'G is provided with a wing part g3whi'ch engagesthe outer surface of the sheet and prevents the sheet/from slipping off the hook by outward lateral movement. The shape of the curvilinear part' g2 (usually a'circular arc struck from a point eccentric to the pin fl') is such that any tendency for a sheet to'lag" behind the hook and gripper is prevented 'by the wedge-like grip of the part g2, which increases with anytendency of the sheet to lag. T

Each gripper is provided with an ear g5, adapted to engage with a longitudinal fixed cam bar 03 which whenthe ear g5 engages 'theinclined part of the cam bar, releasesthe gripper by turning it about its pivotf1; this takes place when the' hook is located at that part of its travel at which the sheets are fed to; or removed from the conveyor, such pivotal movement drawing the part'g2'away from the hook; I

The sheets with the turned-over edges 1701 at fed as hereinafter described directlyonto the hooks f3 of the-part'of the main conveyor which is entering the furnace, or onto a transfer corrveyorT (see Fig. 1) which transfers them on to the said hooks' in the mannerhereinafter described. v I

The saidhooks, when the sheets are hooked on them, are held in their lowermost positionby the engagement of a longitudinal cam bar 04 (shown chain dotted lines Fig. 9A). with the lug'portion f5 of the hooks F; and the gripper G is held in the position'shown in chain dotted lines: at the left-hand side of Fig. 9 so that its-engaging surface 92 and wing part g3 are clear of the sheet K, this movement of the gripper beinggeffected by the engagement between a lug 95'. on the gripper and the underside 1 of the longitudinal cam bar 03 (shown in chain dotted lines in Fi 9A) The underside of the cam bars 03,04 are so shaped that-before the carrier bars Benterthe which is eccentric in respect to the centre of the bolt Ill, andthe gripper G3 is weighted sot-hat mit vertical movement of the hook, and pivotal movement of the gripper, and at a point further forward. the lugs" g5 ofthe gripper engage with the short longitudinal cam 06 (see also Fig.1! which turns the gripper intothe position in which it retains the sheet K in position on the hooks; this position is shown in" full lines in Fig. 'endm-Fig. 9A. J 1

'A longitudinal guide bar 05, see also Figs. 9A and 19, is usually fitted at the lead-in'partcf the conveyor, which, as the sheets enter the fur-. nace,'serves co-keep the sheets inposition on. the hooks, until the cam bar c6 turnsthe'gripw perinto theposit'ion shown in Fig. 9A. The position of the cam bars 03 and c4 and c6 and guide bar c5--are shown in plan view in Fig. .19.

The construction of attachment means described is suitable for sheets with turned-over edges, and is the arrangement adopted in the case of comparatively thin sheets.

7 In some cases, with comparatively thick sheets, for example, it is desirable to provide means for attaching the sheets to the conveyors which render'it unnecessary to turn overtheedge of the sheet to take hooks as above described; in such cases the grippers, instead of merely holding the sheets in place as described; .form'one of the attachment elementsfor th sh'eets on-the carrier for this purpose.

In Fig. 11 the hook part F of the modification described is replaced by a c1amp1F2 slotted at f6 to take the bolt/fl carried 'bythe'iowerpart of the carrier bar B; the lower end of F2 is serrated as at T7; and toe lug is formed on F2 is. fitted a bolt ill on which is pivoted the gripper part G2 having a serrated portion g6 which aligns with the serrations f7; the part; G2, is weighted sothatthe overhung end is drawn downwardly by gravity so that the upper edge of .the sheet K, inserted between the serrations, f7 and serrations g6, is firmly gripped and support,- ed as the sheets are carried through the furnace.

Figs. 11, 12 and-13 show suitable arrangements 1 The pin and slot connections (fl and f6) permit 20 limited. angular and'vertical movement, in addition to the angular'movement permitted to the carrier bar B; as above described. 1 When the sheets K are fed .to the gripping devices, ashhereinafter described-the gripper G2 is 5 bar, and to prevent angular ,moveinent thereof,

.when sheets are fed to or removed from. the conveyor.

Fig. 12. ment last" described, the bolt. fll on which the gripper. G3 is pivotedis on the same sideof the clamp F3 as the gripper, and the serrated portion g9 is struck from a radius thecentre, of

itgnormally tends to turn in the direction ofv the arrow. The sheetKis gripped between the serrated surface I12 of thoolamp. and thc sei-rated surface 99 of the gripper and. the gripping action is augmented should the sheet tend to slidedownwardly; when it is desired to open the gripper, a

longitudinal cam bar 911 engages thearm g'l'of the gripper G3; the clamphhas wings flO. and

showsa modification o fthe arrange- 13G "itslowermost position relatively to the. carrier v longitudinalcam bars f9 are fitted. as before to engage the wings, and hold the clamp against vertical movement when the sheets are fed to or discharged from the conveyor.

-The arrangement shown in Fig. 13 is substantially similar to that last described, and is simi larly lettered and differs only in respect to the provision of a plate g12 pivotally carried on a pin 113 secured to the clamp F4; when the sheet K is'inserted it fits between the pivoted plate 912 and the serrated portion )12, and the grip is obtained by the eccentric portion 913 of the gripper G4 pressing on the plate 912.

The object of this arrangement is to prevent any upward movement of the sheet K, due to inequalities of the track or other cause, from rotating the gripper G4 and so looseningthe grip.

The gripperparts G2, G3, and G4 in the respective arrangements ofFigs. 11, 12 and 13 laterally over-hang the pivoted part so that the serrated parts 96 or g9 or the plain part g13 as the case may be align with the serrated parts I! or I12, in which case the parts which carry the bolts )11 are laterally located. The tail pieces 97 may be centrally arranged and pass through a slot 114 asin Fig. 13, and pass through a slot in the plate g12 as shown in Fig. 13. I

This pivotal attachment to the conveyor of the depending carrier bars of the main conveyer which permits limitedlateral movement, and the slotted connection of the stud carrying 'the hooked portion and its-gripper, or carrying the clamp and its gripper, which permits vertical movement, thus provides automatic means which give freedom of movement in two planes and so prevents distortion of the sheets due to accidental want of alignment of any of the parts.

From the nature of the several modifications described by way of example, it will be seen that I the details of construction of the floating supporting devices and of the grippers for use with the hook and turned over sheet, or for gripping the plain top of the sheet, may be varied in accordance with the type of furnace to which the invention is applied; for instance, the said arm may be of a material sufficiently thin to have lateral flexibility, and it maybe found unnecessary to restrict the amount of lateral movement of the vertical arm; G1, G2, G3, G4 may be. replaced by toggles so arranged as to give a nipping or gripping action equivalent to that described.

At eachend of the furnace, sleeves or frames M (Figs. 14 and 15) are provided, through which the conveyor passes into and out of the conveyor chamber of the furnace A,'and into and "out of the cooling chamber 0, and its portal chamber 01;" the interior transversecontour m1 of the frames follows closely the outside cross sectional contour of the conveyor (see chain dotted line Fig. 8) so as to leave a minimum working clearance; each of the frames M is of sufiicient longitudinal length to ensure that an efficient seal is formed by reason of the fact that escaping gas has to pass between the small clearance spaces between the walls of the frames and the several elements of the conveyor which are within the frames at the same time; owing to their length, these frames also form effective guides for the conveyor, which are operative to prevent fouling should one of the sheets tend to jam.

The openings at the ends of the furnace A and coolingchamber '0, formed by the frames'M through which the conveyor chain-and'carrier bars enter and leavethe said furnace and chamber', are further made effective to prevent leakage of furnace or cooling chamber gases, by being pneumatically sealed, by carrying a pipe R, (see Figs. 14A and 15A) transversely round the profile of the opening; the curved portion of the said pipe being provided with holes or nozzles 1'1 through which air or other gas is forced so as to produce an equilibrium of pressure thus tend ing to prevent .the passage through the said openings of cold air into or .hot gases out of the furnace. i 1

c In order to prevent the conveyor chamber W and the working parts therein from becoming unduly heated by access of furnace gases to this chamber, even where a sealing pipeR is fitted as described, we arrange to supply the conveyor chamber at one or both ends or at any suitable intermediate point, with air or other gas, the pressure. and/or temperature of which are so regulated asto preserve the necessary balance to prevent access to this chamber of the hot gases from the furnace.

Owing to the difference of temperature at dif-.- ferent heights, and therefore to the difference of pressure at different heights in the furnace, of the gases within the furnace, and within the cooling chambers respectively, there is a tendency owing to the want of balance of pressure for a flow of gases from the furnace to the cooling chamber or vice versa. In orderfto overcome this objection we provide, as shown at Fig. 2, near the top of the cooling chamber 0, balancing pipes S, through which air or inert gas at suitable temperature and pressure is supplied to the cooling chamber so as to cause the flow of gas-therein tobe from the top to, the bottom, and thus maintainin the upper parts a pressure which would balance the gas pressure in the upper part of the furnace, and so further serve to prevent the flow of gas through the connections such as the sleeves M, between the furnace A and the cooling chamber 0. I

Should theamount of inert gas added to the cooling chamber not be suflicient to maintain the necessary drop in pressure from the topto thebottom of the cooling chamber, such. drop may be produced by withdrawing some of the saidgas from the bottom of the chamber and re-introducing it at the top, in addition to the fresh gas which is being constantly added through the pipes S. I

A very effective sealing of theconyeyor cham.- ber from the furnace can be obtained by blowing the inert gas into the chamber at a high velocity and pressure by means ofa pipe running thefulllength of the slot, the pipe 015 or another pipe U running along the opposite side of theroof slotwlalso shown in Fig. 8, might beemployed, as this would enable the water cooling of the track andconveyor cham (see Fig. 8) could be employed for this purpose,

thin to enable the attendant to lift the top sheet and turn 1 it by hand into properyvertical alignment to enable it to be-attachedto the grippersof the main conveyor; and according to the'present invention the top sheet of the pile is transferred, whilst approximately horizontal, by the attendant (an operationcomparatively. easily performed) to a table which is horizontal or inclined to the horizontal. at a comparatively acute angle; the sheet is moved along the table until the edge which is to be the top 1 forward by the operation of edge, by which it is to be attached to the conveyor, is in alignment with the attachment means on the transfer conveyor, or on the main conveyor, in the manner hereinafter described. Where the top edge is to be beaded to form a hooked attachment, a beading machine to bead the top edge may be fixed to the said table, so that the said edge is beaded before the sheet is fed forward to the conveyor, the said beaded edge being caused to engage either with the hooks on the main conveyor or on a transfer conveyor, or with a bar which may take the place of a transfer conveyor; the sheet in each case as it passes from the table being allowed to turn under the action of gravity from the horizontal into the vertical, in which latter position, with its top edge secured to the main conveyor it is passed through the furnace and cooling chamber.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 4,-D are the supporting means on to which the sheets to be treated are placed in succession in order to be squared and aligned; said means usually take the form of a slotted table, the top of which is in aligmnent with the sheet attachment means on the forwardly moving part of the transfer conveyor T.

P are squaring fingers slidable in grooves p in the table; each finger is attached to a link of the corresponding chain 102; the three chains p2 are carried by pairs of sprocket wheels p3 and 124, the sprocket wheels p4 being keyed to a common shaft p5 so that movement, say from left to right, imparted to any one of the fingers causes all of the fingers to move in alignment across the table.

The sheets K taken from say a pile k2 of horizontally disposed sheets supported on a stand k3 are laid-in succession on the table D (as shown in chain dotted lines Fig. 4) so that their rear transverse edge k4 abuts against the three squaring pins P when the latter are in the extreme left-hand position; the sheet is then slid transversely across the table until its edge k1, by which it is attached to the conveyor, abuts against the aligning stop 112; the sheet is thus squared and aligned, and its edge k1 is in operative relationship to a reciprocating beading machine E which is of any suitable construction, and is caused in well known manner to make its beading stroke by the depression of a pedal e2, which operates the driving clutch, which connects the beading die to a part of the machine continuously driven by the electric motor e1. The beading machine makes its stroke and beads over the edge k1 of the sheet, as shown, for example, in Fig. 23. The beadingso formed is in longitudinal alignment with the attachment means of the transfer conveyor T mounted on sprocket wheels t1 and t2 (see Fi 4).

The construction of the transfer conveyor will be understood by reference to Figs. 18, 20 and 21;-the links T of the transfer conveyor are provided with rollers 36 which are guided in channels 139 supported from the main framework of the machine, and each link carries a plate t3 to which are attached hook members M, which hook members as they travel round with the transfer belt have their locus in a vertical plane in alignment with the beading machine E; if, therefore, a sheet K which'has been squared and aligned as described. be pushed the attendant in moving the squaring fingers P forwardly, the

said sheet will be brought into connecting relationship with the hooks t4, as shown in Fig. 20, the beaded edge 101 of the sheet overhanging the edge of the table D. The sheet passes under rollers 3'7 carried from a frame bar 35, which rollers hold the edge k1 of the sheet in contact with the hooks t4. From the frame bar 35' are carried a series of pivoted latches t5, the depending endsof which are turned up by the leading edge of the sheet K, whilst the plane of the sheet remains horizontal.

When substantially the full length of the edge R1 of the sheet is located-over the corresponding group of hooks t4, the sheet passes off the table D, its free outer end being supported by a-bar d3 (see Fig. 4) when the sheet is clear of the table the central portions droop downwardly and the free end is gradually drawn transversely over the bar d3, the sheet falling into the vertical position shown in Fig. 21, the sheet being then supported by the engagement of its beaded edge k1 with the hooks t4 and being carried forwardly by the hooks M.

The links of the main conveyor are, as described, provided with pivoted carrier bars B, and these in turn carry the hooks F, and the grippers G; the hooked portions 3 of the former having their locus in the same vertical plane as the locus of the hooks f4.

The forward end of the transfer conveyor T droops as it passes over the sprocket wheel t2, so that as the sheets are transferred from the hooks t4 of the transfer conveyor to the hooks F of the main conveyor, the former hooks move vertically downwardly clear of the beaded porno tions hi, and leave the latter supported by the hooked portions f3 of the main conveyor (see Figs. 22 and 23).

As the beaded edge of the sheet comes on to the hooked parts f3of the hooks the latter are held in their lowermost position (see Figs. 9A, 18 and 19) ,by the cam 04 whichengages the lugs f5 of the hooks; at the same time the grippers G, by engagement of the cam 03 with the lugs 95, are lifted clear of during this part of its travel the sheet is held in engaging position laterally by the guides 05.

When the lugs g5 engage with the cam g6 (see Fig. 18) they turn into the position shown in Fig. 23 and in full lines in Fig. 9, where they hold the beaded part kl firmly in position on the hooked parts f3; the wing portion g3 of the gripper serves to hold the sheets laterally in position after they have passed the guides 05; the

sheets are thus attached to the main conveyor 13) and, attached to and pendant from .the main conveyor, they pass through the furnace where they are subjected to the necessary temperature for annealing or other purposes, and are then carried into the cooling chamber 0, where they are cooled; and they pass out of the cooling chamber at the-end J of the apparatus with the conveyor and are unloaded in any convenient manner.

The coolingchamber 0 is fitted with a portal chamber 0 (see Fig. 2) to which air at a pres- 1 sure higher than the atmosphere is admitted by a pipe similar to the pipes S.

The vertical opening al, which forms the entrance to the furnace through which the sheets pass into the furnace and the exits by which the sheets leave the cooling chamber, are made as narrow as possible; the width of such openings must, of course, be great enough to permit entry of the sheets, the surfaces of which may be deformed so that they do not'lie in a vertical plane;

the beaded portion 14:1; and 120 and in order to prevent leakage into or out of the furnace and cooling chamber, these openings are sealed by air jets obliquely directed on to opposite sides of the sheets. Vertical pipes Y supplied with air under pressure, are located on opposite sides of the openings a1 as shown in Figs. 16 and 17, and these pipes are perforated at intervals so as to provide nozzles for the issuing jets of air; at the lower parts of the openings al, the nozzles are directed outwardly as shown in Fig. 16, so as to prevent leakage of air into the furnace where the pressure within the lower portion of the furnace is usually below that of the atmosphere; the nozzles at the upper ends of the openings a1 may be directed normally or inwardly, so as to prevent the leakage out of hot gases from the upper parts of the furnace where the pressure is usually slightly above that of the atmosphere. Similar pipes Y are located on opposite sides of the outlet 02 as shown in Fig. 6.

Figs. '7 and 7A show a modification of the feeding table and squaring fingers; in this modification the stack of sheets K is placed in front of the operator who stands in a recess (110 formed in the table D and pulls the top sheet K down the skids dll on to the table D; the squaring fingers P are formed at the end of levers p12 keyed to a shaft p11 so that angular movement is imparted to them instead of sliding movement as in Fig. 1; d2 is the transverse aligning pin; '1 is the transfer conveyor carried on sprocket wheels t20 and t21; 040 is the rear sprocket wheel 'of the main conveyor and B are the carriers of the main conveyor C constructed as described in connection with Figs. 8 to 10; the aligning and the feeding of the sheets is as described in connection with Figs. 1 to 6.

In Figs. 24, 25, 26 and 2'7 the table D, squaring fingers P and aligning pin d2 are as described in reference to Figs. 1 and 4; but in these figures additional means are shown to control the sheets after they leave the table D and before they turn 'into the vertical; such means comprise two pairs of feed belts (120 and 'd21 carried on pulleys c122 mounted on shafts d23 driven in-any suitable manner so that the contacting portions of the belt have the same lineal speed as the transfer belt.

In Figs. 32 and 33 belts d and 1131, similar in function to the belts (120 and 1121, are carried on pulleys d322, mounted on shafts d33; the adjacent parts of the belts are held in contact by skids (134 and 0135; d being fixed and being under the upper run of the belt (131, and d34 having a toggle attachment (136 and weight d3? by which downward pressure is exerted on the skid (134, forcing the adjacent parts of the belt together, and thus ensuring adequate grip between the belts and the interposed sheets; c138 are jockey pulleys to maintain the tension of the belt.

Referring to the modification illustrated in Figs. 24, 25 and 35 to 38:- the feeding machine is constructed substantially as described in connection with Figs. 1 to 6 except that in this case the beading machine is dispensed with, the axes of the sprocket wheels tll and 1512 (see Figs. 24, 25 and 35) of the transfer conveyor '1 are vertical, and the axes of the sprocket wheels 07 of the main conveyor C are horizontal; the general arrangement is shown in Figs. 24, 25 and 35 the latter being an end elevation to a larger scale than Figs. 24 and 25; the details of the gripping devices for the transfer conveyor are shown in Figs. 36 to 38; the gripping devices for the main conveyor being shown in Fig. 12.

As stated, the sheets K require attachment to the gripping devices of the transfer conveyor whilst they are in the horizontal position shown in Figs. 24 and 25; the gripping devices suitable for this. purpose are illustrated in Figs. 35 to38.

The transfer conveyor T is guided in a suitable rectangular guide 38 (see Fig. 35) by means of the rollers 39 journalled on the link pivots of the conveyor, which links are maintained vertical by the guides 38, and maintained at the right height by the slides 40; the grippers comprise a jaw-like member t10 pivoted by the pin 41 to a lever 42 which in turn is pivoted by the pin 43 to the links of the conveyor or brackets carried by the links; a gripper 910 is pivoted by the pin 44 to the member tl0, and a spring 45 is connected between an arm on the member t10 and an arm on the gripper glO, and tends to turn the gripper so that its serrated edge 46 (which is eccentric to the pivot pin 44) is brought nearly into contact with the edge 47 so that a sheet introduced between 46 and 47 is frictionally gripped between these surfaces in such manner that any tendency to withdraw it when gripped increases the grip. The gripper glO is fitted with-an arm 910' adapted to be operated by a longitudinally disposed cam bar 48 and a similar cam bar 49 is provided and adapted to operate the arm 42, a further cam bar 51 may be fitted to control the movement of the part t10.

As the transfer conveyor passes along parallel with the left-hand edge of the tableof the feeding machine D the. attachment gear described is, by the action of the cam bar mentioned, turned into the position shown in Fig. 36, the gripper G being opened so that the sheet K as it is fed by the squaring means of the feeding machine has its edge inserted between the gripper 910 and the part no; the cam bars are so shaped that as the sheet proceeds forward, the attachment means take up the relative positions shown in Fig. 3'7 as the right-hand end of the sheets are released from the supporting bars (d3 Fig. 4) whereupon the sheet K is now gripped between the serrated surfaces and the attachment means move into the position shown in Fig. 12. As the gripping devices (illustrated in Fig. 12), carried by the main conveyor pass down over the end of the sprocket wheel 07 rotating about its horizontal axis;

these attachment means intermesh with the attachment means just described on the transfer conveyor, and the cam bars (such as 03 and 04 Figs. 18 and 19) bring the parts G and F (Fig. 12) into relative positions such that the gripping parts as they pass over the upper edge of the sheets are brought into position in relation thereto as shown in Fig. 12, the cams causing the grippers to close and firmly grip the upper edges of the sheets which are thus attached to the main conveyor; as the gripping devices on the main conveyor grip the sheets, the gripping devices on the transfer conveyor are moved by their respective cam bars into the position shown in v Fig. 38, and on comparing this figure with Fig. 37 it will be seen that the gripping devices 010 and t10 are raised clear of the top edges of the sheets, and are thus permitted to pass freely round the sprocket wheel t12 (see Figs. 24 and 

